“Well, I’m off, Mr. Vincent.”
They went back into the room and shut the door. Adelaide clenched her hands; these delays were hard to bear.
It was not a long delay, though in that next room a very human bond was about to be broken. Possibly if Vincent had done exactly what his impulses prompted, he would have taken Miss Gregory in his arms and kissed her. But instead he said quietly, for his manner had not much range:
“I shall miss you.”
“It’s time I went.”
“To some case more interestingly dangerous?”
“Your case was dangerous enough for me,” said the girl; and then for fear he might miss her meaning, “I never met any one like you, Mr. Farron.”
“I’ve never been taken care of as you took care of me.”
“I wish”—she looked straight up at him—“I could take care of you altogether.”
“That,” he answered, “would end in my taking care of you.”